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DON BRENNAN, QMI Agency

Oct 14, 2011

, Last Updated: 10:00 PM ET

WASHINGTON — If the decision had to be made Friday, and was based on one game, Mika Zibanejad would already be on his way home to Sweden.

“I thought it was probably his worst game, through the exhibition and the (regular) season,” Senators coach Paul MacLean said of the 18-year-old’s play in Thursday’s 7-1 loss to Colorado. “He wasn’t alone, either. It might be easier to say who had a game.”

Clearly. But what were Zibanejad’s shortcomings?

“I just thought the speed ... it was fast, and he looked, at times like a young player,” said MacLean. “(Like) it was confusing (to him). The pressure was there, the intensity was there and he wasn’t able to grasp what was going on.”

Which is why he played only 11:05, second least amount of ice time on the team after the 9:17 worked by Zack Smith — and he likely wasn’t low man on the pole only because Smith spent nine minutes in the penalty box.

Yes, if the choice had to be made today, the Senators would be declaring their top pick from last June’s draft not yet ready for prime time, and Zibanejad’s next steps on Scotiabank Place ice would be in September.

But they have nine games to watch this surefire prospect, without kick-starting his entry-level contract, and they are going to use them. If Zibanejad is wearing the centurion Oct. 27 at SBP — game No. 10 — then he’s in Ottawa for good.

“We don’t have to make that decision until then,” said MacLean, “so we’re not going to.”

Zibanejad will have another good opportunity to show he belongs in Washington, as he’s expected to be back on the right wing of a line with Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek.

Zibanejad is more comfortable at centre, but the Senators expect him to be flexible.

“The games he’s played better in, he’s played (centre),” said MacLean. “I think it’s too easy a leap to say he played bad (Thursday) because he was a winger. I’m not prepared to do that. I think it was more to do with the speed of the game than anything.”

Zibanejad was tied for the team lead in goals during the pre-season, with three in six games. But, he has discovered, the tempo increases once the real games begin. In four of them to date, he has an assist and has a minus-3 rating.

MacLean wasn’t crazy about the play of 22-year-old Stephane Da Costa — who is at least temporarily holding on to the second-line centre job — in Thursday’s loss, either.

“I thought it was a down game for him as well,” said MacLean. “He was very creative in previous games he’s played, but (Thursday) he wasn’t. Much like the rest of the team, he didn’t have a very good game.”

But it’s Zibanejad that the clock is ticking on, not Da Costa, who can be sent to Binghamton and recalled whenever the Senators want. They don’t have that luxury with Zibanejad. If he’s not in the NHL, he has to fulfil his contract in Sweden.

“I can’t focus on the ninth game or the 10th game,” said Zibanejad. “It’s a couple of games before that, and I just want to focus on Saturday night’s game against Washington, and try to do better than the last game. I’m not focusing on (management’s decision) right now, but of course I have that in the back of my mind.”

Zibanejad has impressed his teammates and possibly part of that is not a single one of them played in the NHL as an 18-year-old.

“Just shows how our scouting staff did a great job finding him,” said Nick Foligno. “He’s definitely a man-child, so to speak. But he still has a lot of things to learn. I remember coming in at 19 and you’ve got lots of things to learn. He’s 18 years old. There’s a whole new world almost to him right here ... it’s learning the ways of life over here and becoming a good NHL player. It’s a lot to ask, but he’s been really good. He’s asking questions, he’s learning a lot. I think he’s surrounded himself with good guys, sitting right next to Alfie. It’s only going to get better for him.”

Zibanejad knows what he wants, but isn’t sure he can get it. He wants this one to be his NHL rookie season.

“I’ve made it this far, so of course I want to stay,” said Zibanejad. “But I know it’s going to be tough and you’ve got to fight for your spot every day, and show you want to be better. It’s tough for sure.”